April 20, 2018

Embrace Sabbath Rest

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

– Hebrews 4:9-11

It’s a study I need. Desperately. It’s titled Breathe and it’s led by Priscilla Shirer. What’s the topic? Sabbath rest. Or, maybe I should just say rest. It’s about God giving us permission to rest.

Wow. There is power in that. Freedom. We know about Sunday. We talk about the day of rest. We just don’t think it applies to us. We haven’t earned a rest. We have too much to do. And don’t forget the kids. Their activities never cease, even on Sunday.

I’m not sure where I acquired the notion that it’s not okay to rest. Maybe it came from my parents, who questioned me pointedly if I sat down for even a moment to rest. I was expected to always be working, to always be serving, to always be doing their bidding. Few people realized how long my days were.

Now my parents are gone but their voices linger in my head. I don’t want to be lazy. I can’t be lazy. There are too many animals to tend, a farm to manage, and an income to earn. But I am tired. And I feel like I can’t sit down with a book or magazine and simply rest. Even on Sunday.

How about you? When do you rest? I know there are people who veg out in front of the television. We always hear about those people. I don’t personally know any of them. The people I know are too busy juggling life’s demands to sit down and do nothing, even for a short period of time.

I look at our children and wonder if they will ever understand the concept of rest or Sabbath. They attend school five days each week. They also have ball practice or dance or other after school activities. Even Sunday is now filled with dance competitions or ball tournaments.

I asked one mom, “When do they rest?” She looked at me as though I’d lost my mind. “Oh, they enjoy it,” she assured me.

Seriously? How can they not be tired? They never have down time to simply play and enjoy being a child.

It’s a vicious cycle. And we don’t want to set boundaries, for them or for us, because what would people think? Do we truly believe that the more we do the better people we become? Do we think we have to fill every waking moment with some activity?

I get it. I do. I’m there with you. I’ve only made it through one week of this study and my eyes have opened. It doesn’t mean I’ve changed my behavior. That’s a habit that will take some time to reprogram. But it really does reveal to me how destructive being busy all the time can be.

It also tells me that God never intended for any of us to be overworked and stressed all the time. He created Sabbath for us to rest and recharge. God modeled that behavior for us. He gave us the freedom to do nothing for a time. We have His permission. It’s time to embrace rest, to allow ourselves to be filled up again so that we might continue the work God has called us to do.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Our Lives Should Reflect Jesus

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. -- Hebrews 4:13

Do you ever wonder if others see the motivations of your heart? Do you see your own motivations? Are you honest with yourself? Do you look in the mirror and see what you’re really doing and why?

I am forever amazed by some of the things really good people do. I know. We’re all human. We all make mistakes. None of us are perfect. But what really gets my dander up is when a Christian who prides himself on living his faith does something wrong and then laughs it off.

I’m sure Satan is having a wonderful time with it all. This man who volunteers with a jail ministry one night a week, who brags about always spreading the gospel, did something to benefit himself financially while hurting others. And in so doing, he really diminished his voice for Jesus.

That’s what happens when Satan gets a foothold in our lives. It’s something we all have to guard against. And put me at the front of that group. I am aware every single day that Satan is working hard to silence all Christian witnesses. One of the best ways to do that is to discredit those who speak for Jesus.

Another man just resigned his job because he’s being investigated for an illegal real estate transaction. It would be sad under any circumstances. Taking money from local taxpayers hurts all of us. But the saddest thing is that this man really supported and encouraged programs to help people turn their lives around by developing a relationship with Christ.

So who loses? Well, obviously he does. But what about all those who believed what he said about living right and living for Jesus? What about all those who believed him when he said the way out of a past filled with drugs and theft and violence was to make a commitment to Jesus? Now you and I know that anyone can falter. We understand that Christians are still sinners. But what these new Christians see, what those on the edge of belief hear, is that Jesus doesn’t really work when it comes to living a different kind of life.

Which brings me back to the first man. He knows he did something wrong. I believe he does. I just don’t think he cares. It’s like there’s a separation between what he does for Jesus and what he does for himself. He doesn’t want to admit that his business ethics -- especially when his actions harm others -- make people not want to hear anything he might have to say about Jesus.

We don’t fool anyone when we shove Jesus aside when it comes to how we handle our business affairs and financial dealings with others. Our lives reflect Him. And if they don’t, we’ve got a problem.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

God Knows

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." -- Hebrews 4:13

When your world turns upside down, God is there. Where uncertainly hangs over you, God is there. Where fear fills your soul, God is there. You don't even have to say anything, though He's ready to listen if you do. God knows your heart. He knows what you're going through.

It started as a normal day. Laughter and coffee. Errands and plans. Then, suddenly, a trip to the emergency room and the uncertainty of medical conditions and treatment. We tried to keep up a casual banter. We ignored the fear inside, needing to remain calm for the patient. We were concerned but not panicked. Or so we appeared.

Inside, my heart pleaded with God to do something. I wasn't focused enough to even know what. Just that I needed Him to be in charge of the doctors and tests, of the outcome and days ahead. He heard it all because God knows our hearts. He hears every unspoken word just as clearly as the spoken words. Maybe more so because of the feelings bottled up inside.

I don't know what the days and weeks ahead will bring. It scares me in ways I can't even begin to admit to myself. God knows. He hears. He's right there to steady my step and see me through wherever the path may lead.